Dangerous nurses

ozoneranger · Mar 16, 2009

The nurse I wrote about scared me ********.

we worked together for 6 months and in that time I caught her:

1. Trying to put a dislodged NG tube back down with the feeding pump still running (she tried to kick the door shut to keep me out)

2. I walked in & caught her inflating the balloon on a foley before she got urine return......tore the patients urethra.....

3. She used to put all her patients meds in cups with the room # written on the bottom. She got off by one room # & gave 4 patients the wrong meds.

4. She asked me to do wound care for a patient...I walked in & discovered that she had opened a bottle of golitly & had been using it instead of NS. Not only was it the wrong solution, it was 3 days old (her initials on the bottle).

5. Gave a dose of AM insulin to the wrong patient.

6. She had a patient on a hep drip, I walked by the room & noticed a huge lump on the side of her neck...I immediately stopped the drip & notified nurse nightmare of what I found. She went in the room & restarted the drip. I called the night supervisor, the patient had a huge bleed & was sent to the ICU.

I reached the point of refusing to work with her, along with everyone else.

She grew to hate my guts, (I have no idea why) then, after she was allowed to quit, she moved to another city & went into research. Her mom suffered a CVA & guess who was doing her discharge teaching when dear daughter called to ask how things were going.....

She hung up, called the president of the hospital & demanded someone else discharge her mom. Our DON called her back & offered to re-read all her write ups to her as a reminder of her glory days in bedside care. I finished the discharge, with the insufferable ***** on the phone listening the entire time.

RN1982 · Mar 17, 2009

I wouldn't have even let her listen on the phone. That's just me. If she wanted to hear the discharge instructions, she should have been there with dear mom. I would have told her that a patient was ringing foro you and that you had to go. Then give mom instructions.

RN1982 · Mar 17, 2009

IMHO, the most dangerous nurses are the ones who are told they are making mistakes yet do not change their behavior and continue to make the same mistake.

loricatus · Mar 17, 2009

IMHO, the most dangerous nurses are the ones who are told they are making mistakes yet do not change their behavior and continue to make the same mistake.

You are so right :up:

meluhn · Mar 17, 2009

I once worked with a nurse and the doc order seemed just whacko...too much insulin (I dont remember exactly how much was it but I think 18 units,!!!!) and I told the nurse I'm not going to give it and she replied with attitude "If the doctor prescribe it,you should give it"...I was in shock and my instructor told me to give her back the MAR....

18 units isn't that outlandish for some long time diabetics who are insulin resistant. I have given more than that on occassion.

VivaRN · Mar 17, 2009

When I was a new grad in the ICU we were coding a pt., and the physician called out for vasopressin. Myself and a senior nurse went to get it. The senior nurse was like, "potassium?" She was getting ready to draw up some K+ out of a bag to push it. I argued with her first nicely ("umm, I think he said vasopressin...") and then more forcefully when she wouldn't listen. Luckily another nurse heard the commotion and came over. It was scary. She would've done it, and even afterwards didn't understand why it was wrong.

RN1982 · Mar 17, 2009

She didn't understand why it was wrong? That's frightening.

detroitdano · Mar 17, 2009

Kevorkian in training I guess

lamazeteacher · Mar 17, 2009

I wish the one where I work was gone. This one is getting worse and I think she has Munchausen by Nurse (proxy) syndrome. Reported the nurse to ALL managers, with specifics on med errors witnessed & distress inflicted on patients, along with other things I can't discuss here, only to have them fire another nurse for a bogus reason (that dangerous nurse set up). This prompted the dangerous nurse to get worse because of feeling job security.
I seriously do not know what to do about this one. I can't think of anyone else to report this to and I cannot keep watching this nurse to prevent patient harm and still care for my patients.
And, I am serious about the Munchausen's, although I am coining the phrase 'by nurse'. This one has all the traits described ("poor impulse control, self-destructive behavior, borderline or passive-aggressive personality trait or disorder"). Still am in shock that administration lets this sicko attend to patients and has let a decent nurse go.
Wish the economy were better so I can get out.

You might report her to the BON........

My understanding of Munchausen by proxy, is that a mother wants attention and gets it by purposely injuring her child(ren). Then she revels in being told what wonderful care she gives her child, all the while she defeats efforts to improve the child's health. Is that really what the nurse you're talking about does to patients?

I knew a situation, wherein a 2 year old wasn't eating much (what else is new?), and the mother convinced the doctor caring for her child, to put a GT in. I saw them when the child was 4, and she still had the tube, with tube feedings, yet the child was emaciated and developmentally delayed........ I was with them 24 hours a day while the child spent 3 days at Disneyland, as a "Make-a-wish" guest. The mom must have manipulated someone, as there was no diagnosis indicating the child was in danger of loosing her life (other than mom).

Mom wouldn't allow me to do any of the tube feedings, and took her daughter into the adjoining room at the hotel for them, so I couldn't see her doing it. The child didn't have a B.M. the whole time we were there, that I knew of, but mom said it wasn't a concern! That's when I doubted she had her child's best interests in mind.

I was working for a HH agency and reported my suspicions to the Director of Nursing, who had her Masters degree in psych nursing. She discussed it with the Director in the district where the child lived, but they said no other nurse suspected that, and did nothing. I felt as frustrated as you do.

meluhn · Mar 17, 2009

You might report her to the BON........
I was working for a HH agency and reported my suspicions to the Director of Nursing, who had her Masters degree in psych nursing. She discussed it with the Director in the district where the child lived, but they said no other nurse suspected that, and did nothing. I felt as frustrated as you do.

Maybe child protective services if you cant get any help from DON. Did anyone read that book about that crazy LPN who kept shooting kids up with succinine cholate or whatever it is that paralyzes the diaphragm? When they coded she would play the hero and try to save them. If they died she enjoyed playing the grieving nurse. It was sick. She killed so many healthy kids in a regular clinic and then she did it to sick ones on a peds unit in a hospital. She got away with it for years. All for attention.

flygirl43 · Mar 17, 2009

I'm not an incompetent nurse, will always ask questions if I dont know. Some of us are a little too quick with our judgements. Gimme a break! You know what Im talking about....we all miss things when we are tired or the previous shift !@#$ up on orders. Be kind and loving. If they passed the exam, they have the knowledge. Be supportive so they can apply it!

RN1982 · Mar 17, 2009

You might report her to the BON........
My understanding of Munchausen by proxy, is that a mother wants attention and gets it by purposely injuring her child(ren). Then she revels in being told what wonderful care she gives her child, all the while she defeats efforts to improve the child's health. Is that really what the nurse you're talking about does to patients?
I knew a situation, wherein a 2 year old wasn't eating much (what else is new?), and the mother convinced the doctor caring for her child, to put a GT in. I saw them when the child was 4, and she still had the tube, with tube feedings, yet the child was emaciated and developmentally delayed........ I was with them 24 hours a day while the child spent 3 days at Disneyland, as a "Make-a-wish" guest. The mom must have manipulated someone, as there was no diagnosis indicating the child was in danger of loosing her life (other than mom).
Mom wouldn't allow me to do any of the tube feedings, and took her daughter into the adjoining room at the hotel for them, so I couldn't see her doing it. The child didn't have a B.M. the whole time we were there, that I knew of, but mom said it wasn't a concern! That's when I doubted she had her child's best interests in mind.
I was working for a HH agency and reported my suspicions to the Director of Nursing, who had her Masters degree in psych nursing. She discussed it with the Director in the district where the child lived, but they said no other nurse suspected that, and did nothing. I felt as frustrated as you do.

I feel bad for that child. Poor thing. Whatever came of her? It's sad that the mother's disorder wasn't discovered earlier.